Homeschool Hacks To Keep Babies and Preschoolers Occupied

One of the loudest cries for help new homeschool moms make is: What do I do with my baby / toddler / preschooler when I’m trying to teach my older kids?

Good question! We picked some of our favorite homeschool hacks that might help you think outside the box and find some solutions that might work for you.

Some are for fun and some are for real. You decide which is which! In either case, we’re keeping it real. No specially designed, lets-make-it-all-pretty-and-picture-perfect here. Because, really, who’s got time for that?

Baby Bouncer Hack

When you need your hands free to help your older kids but the baby is ready to nap.

Not To Leave Toddlers Out Of the Fun

Window Painting

Stick the high chair next to a window. Get a little packing tape to hold the paint bags in place and let your baby Picasso go to town.
SOURCE: Teaching Mama

Pom Pom Tubes

Developmentally, your baby is still developing object permanence, the concept that things continue to exist even if you can’t see them – which is what makes this activity so delightful and full of repetitive fun.
SOURCE: Hello Bee

Flying Spaghetti Monster

If you don’t already have pipe cleaners at home, quick, run to the dollar store and buy some. They’re great for building eye-hand coordination skills.
SOURCE: Dana’s Pink Ribbon

Coloring Box

This takes coloring inside the lines to a whole new level.
SOURCE: BerrySweetBaby

Busy Town

Older kids can help create a town scene so younger ones can dominate it, like Godzilla!
SOURCE: Pickle Bums

It’s Hammock Time

Take a bed sheet and make a hammock under your kitchen … ummm … student desk
SOURCE: Joyful Abode

Blow Up Fort

This works best if you have a duvet cover, but you can also make it work with a giant sheet that’s been tucked and help in place by chairs. Add to the fun by throwing in some small balloon that the littles one have to try to catch.
SOURCE: Happy Go Lucky

alessa

Alessa Giampaolo Keener, M.Ed. works with clients around the world in developing individualized learning plans that value the strengths and weaknesses of the whole child. While her focus has long been on the social-emotional needs of the gifted child, Alessa also works with governmental agencies in helping to meet the educational needs of children in foster care, as well as those involved in the juvenile justice system. Alessa lives in Maryland, where she homeschooled her kids into college. You can email Alessa at alessa.education (at) gmail.com

My spirited 2 year old LOVED the table hammock. We kept it around for a week. Forts seems to tame her inner beast too. Must be the security of a den…kind of like wild animals like their dens. Fitting for her.

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Life Happens

Sometimes life comes along and hijacks your best laid curricular plans. That can be a good thing.